Youth Commission looks to partner with library for job fair

Arlington Heights Memorial Library could host the event

The Arlington Heights Youth Commission is again looking to partner with the library to create an annual youth job fair.

The Arlington Heights Memorial Library could offer a place to host the event, said Tom Spicer, the library's teen supervisor.

Spicer said that although the library is still collecting information about the partnership, he envisions a career fair element to the event.

"Giving teens knowledge on what's out for there for them and letting them explore what they might want to do — that kind of exploration is what we want to offer teens," Spicer said. "They're self-identifying in their lives, and letting them know what's out there is invaluable."

Spicer said the village approached him about a partnership in August. He said he told the commission it would be a good idea because not all high schools have fairs but that the first one should be kept small.

Among potential resources the library could offer include promotional efforts, staffing, money and its connection to local schools, Spicer said.

The commission attempted to host a job fair this year but didn't have the resources to make it happen, said James McCalister, the village's director of building and health services.

That fair was scheduled for January 2012 at Olympic Park. It was canceled because the commission couldn't attract businesses or exhibitors, according to Sue Gwinnup, a member of the youth commission and superintendent for recreation at the Arlington Heights Park District.

"It did not happen," Gwinnup said. "We had no businesses who wanted to participate. It wasn't for a lack of people who wanted to attend."

The commission's chairwoman, Laura Bartell, said the commission "ran as far as they could, but they were against the economy, and the job market hasn't been very good. There wasn't much available and not a lot of activity at that time."

This time around, the youth commission has discussed recruiting local businesses in person and working with the Chamber of Commerce. Bartell said the group had more investigating and research to do but must focus on getting the word out to businesses.

"We'd like to actually make this an annual event so the youth always have a resource to go to to look for some type of work," Bartell said.

The commission is made up of seven youth members and six adults. A meeting to discuss the fair is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Nov. 15 in the Commissions Room of Village Hall, 33 S. Arlington Heights Road.